EMERGENCY SERVICES HAWK

Vol.6, Issue 5

Civil Air Patrol

October 2007

To Be Ready, Responsive, and Relevant

SEMPER VI
Mission Failure
Common Failures in Leadership:
Operational Leaders most often make the following behavioral mistakes:

Inability to organize details

Unwillingness to render humble service
Fear of competition from followers
Lack of imagination
Selfishness
Lacking emotional restraint
Disloyalty
Emphasis on the authority of being a leader or the title
Not knowing the limits of their own abilities
Not willing to work as part of the total team

How the operational leaders are trusted as a leader depends on the perceptions the unit will have
based on the leader's demonstrated behavior.
Common Factors of Mission Failures:
Operational Leaders most often make the following tactical mistakes, leading to potential mission
failure:

Preoccupation with minor technical problems

Failure to delegate tasks and assign responsibilities
Failure to set priorities
Inadequate monitoring of assigned tasks
Failure to utilize available data
Failure to communicate intent and plans

How leaders interact with every person they come into contact with before and during a mission
sortie or tasking can significantly affect the outcome of the mission.
ALCYONEUS NOW
A Grab and Go Box
According to the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), it is important to prepare
yourself against a financial hit that usually accompanies a large-scale emergency or disaster. In a
previous issue (Vol. 4, Issue 1 Feb.05) we described how to make a disaster preparedness kit. In
addition to those kits, it is also recommended you prepare a grab and go box to contain your
most financially critical documents. This box should be relatively small and lightweight, durable,
waterproof, and easily secured. In fact, it is important you make two boxes to be kept and
updated annually (or as your financial situation changes). One box is to be kept securely in your
home, and the other kept at a secure off-site should a disaster destroy your home. NEFE

recommends the following common sense actions to better prepare yourself financially for the
next disaster, with documents and copies of documents placed in a secure grab and go box:

Conduct a household inventory of your possessions, listing everything of personal or financial

value in case they are damaged or destroyed. Place the inventory in each of your boxes.

A small number of travelers checks or cash (small denomination), and a few rolls of quarters.
A large-scale disaster can shut down ATMs and electronic transactions in Banks.

Copies of important financial records, such as money market or investment accounts, as well
as a list of all passbook and checking account numbers.

Copies of credit card numbers, drivers licenses, vehicle licenses, and Social Security
numbers.

Negatives of irreplaceable personal photographs, in waterproof plastic sleeves.

List of emergency contracts, which will include personal physicians, financial advisors,
accountants, clergy, work contacts, insurance agents, and family members.

Copies of insurance information (life, health, dental, prescription), including the name and
telephone numbers of insurance agents.

Copies of auto, homeowners, renters insurance policies, and a list of key insurance company
telephone numbers.

Copies of important medical information, such as medicine prescriptions, eyewear

prescriptions, immunization records, and significant medical history.

Copies (or at least off-site location of) important family records, such as deeds, titles, wills,
birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates, employee benefits documents, and the first
two pages of the previous years state and federal tax returns.

Any important keys you will need later to get into your house, safety deposit box, vehicles, or
storage facilities.

The NEFE has many more important common sense things you can do to better prepare yourself
financially for a disaster. Visit their website for more information: www.nefe.org
FORTY SECOND BOYD
Lessons from the Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War- Col. John R. Boyd, USAF
Tactical commanders when given broad authority take the initiative and become semiautonomous; they continuously interact with the environment without hesitation. This speeding-up
of decision cycles among tactical commanders provides quick adaptation to the changing
environment. Collectively tactical adaptation works up the chain of command to influence the
evolution of the organization as a whole.
CARRYING THE FIRE
The Dirty Dozen Ways to Screw Up a Customer Demonstration
With the discovery of new technology supporting emergency services operations, it is always a
challenge to take the new technology and apply it to new missions. A secondary challenge is to
demonstrate that new technology and procedures to potential customers so they will consider
using your organization featuring the latest and greatest, making their lives easier.

Here are the dirty dozen mistakes that are routinely made in customer demonstrations of new
technology:
1. Limited testing of the new technology elements- there is a tendency for techno-nerds who
fully understand the technology to use a plug in and go method of application, instead of
fully testing the various elements to set the limits of use in field applications or in ease of
operation.
2. Limited Field Testing (or worse no field testing at all)3. The temptation to tinker4. No written operations plan5. No written training plan6. Having no back-up plan7. Assuming the demonstration will go exactly like the field tests8. Neglecting to practice, practice, practice9. Not testing the new technology against the results of the previously used technology10. Shelving the previous technology without consideration for possible use in the future11. Having techno-nerds explain the technology and procedures to the potential customer12. Not being able to answer all questions asked by the potential customer.
CREWS CONTROL
How to be a Smooth Driver
Aggressive driving has been cited by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
as the number one safety threat in the United States, leading to the following statistics:
Aggressive driving accidents cost the nation $40.4 billion annually
Aggressive driving accidents are a factor in about 30% of all accidents
Aggressive driving accidents result in about 36 vehicular deaths per day
According to the 2007 National Safety Council, there are two types of drivers; smooth drivers and
aggressive drivers. These common attributes are associated with aggressive drivers:
Aggressive drivers..

Pass other vehicles during heavy traffic congestions or bad road conditions

Run red lights and stop signs

Speed up to and through an intersection when there is a yellow light

Routinely speed more than 5 miles per hour over the posted speed limit

Tailgate

Are often very critical of drivers doing the same things they often do in traffic

Weave in and out of traffic

Change lanes frequently and suddenly without using turn signals

Rarely yield to other drivers

Often visibly/verbally react to the frustration associated with congested traffic

Pass slower vehicles on the shoulder of the road or in the right lane assigned to slower
vehicles

The following recommendations for becoming a smooth driver come from Leon James, Ph.D. with
the National Safety Council: When faced with a frustrating moment while driving..

Take some deep breaths and force yourself to count to ten slowly

Tell yourself it is not worth the hassle and think about the people counting on you

Think of something funny

Influence others by acting the better person above the situation which is causing the
frustration

Do not take it personally; think of positive reasons the traffic is acting the way it is

Seize the moral high ground, and defuse the anger by appearing friendly and peaceful

Strive to become a better driver who would avoid causing traffic frustrations

According to Dr. James, a smooth driver drives smart, is a good role model to others (including
future drivers), stays in control of a situation, helps maintain a good traffic flow, maintains
composure, and arrives alive.
If you are interested in knowing if you are an aggressive driver, go to the National Safety
Councils website (www.nssc.org/plus) and take the Aggressive Drivers Quiz. In most cases you
are not likely to be totally objective, so if you have the courage, have someone who routinely
rides with you take the quiz for you. That will be your most objective assessment of your driving
attitude.
THE ACE FACTOR
Information for Command Decisions
All good decisions require information. Good command decisions require a combination of static
knowledge and dynamic information. The static knowledge a field commander must have in
emergency services operations is the set governmental doctrine for the response, resources and
an effective response infrastructure. This static knowledge is the basis of the commands plans or
initial operational function. Static knowledge is essentially a concept of how the response should
go based on practiced (or experienced) tactical circumstances. The field commander who thinks
he or she can successfully operate a mission based on preconceived notions or previous
experience, will find tactical operations behind the power curve with too little, too late. An
emergency services operations is never static, with no two situations alike. Also, based on the
varying condition and availability of resources, no two responses to identical situations will be
alike.
This is where good command decisions require dynamic information from the front line action to
adapt quickly to the situation. All emergency response situations are fluid. There will always be
unexpected variables in two areas: resources and in-field situations. It is important to note the
farthest away person from either will likely be the person in charge of the response, the Incident

Commander. Dynamic information requires immediate contact between the resource director
(logistics) and the person closest to the in-field emergency situation (on-scene commander).
These two areas must have a unit-specific understanding of the situation, to report in near real
time to the operational commander for good decisions to be made. The only means of
transferring that real time information is through a very integrated and reliable communications
plan. On-scene command, logistics and communications need to be fully integrated with the
operational plans, and in tune with the situation before them.
A good command decision also includes allowing the logistics director and on-scene commander
to make on the spot decisions based on the fluidity of the situation. The command decision there
is to support the front-line decision.
SURVIVAL SENSE
Basic Needs for Wilderness Survival
There are certain needs every person thrust into a survival situation requires to survive:

The Will to Survive- the physical demands of survival are of importance, but in survival there
are many stress related behaviors, which can impact the mind and affect decision-making.
Without the will to survive, these behaviors will interfere with over coming the physical
demands.

The Basic Needs of Survival- there are four basic physical needs to survive; maintaining
warmth, remain hydrated with water, getting plenty of rest or sleep to remain rational, and
food to maintain energy levels.

Making the Right Decisions- in survival it is imperative to make the right decisions, in spite of
the stressful situation. Correct decisions and actions require confidence in your abilities to
remain calm and objective, relying on your training and experience to pull your through.

Developing Survival Skills- there are eight basic wilderness survival skills, which you should
learn to become confident in your abilities, to avoid panic and sustain the will to survive:
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How to make a shelter to retain warmth and protection from weather

How to make a fire, especially when you do not have matches
How to find and purify water
How to find food
How to signal for attracting attention
How to navigate with and without the use of a map and compass
Learn basic first aid
Learn how to predict weather

POINT OF CARE
Emotionally Surviving the Situation
It is against human nature to remain calm, composed, and focused during any critical situation,
crisis, or emergency. The situation can be anything from a traumatic event in the comfort of your
home, a car accident within a city, an emotional incident or accident at your place of work, or a
life and death fight for survival.
The human body quickly develops critical incident stress symptoms or reactions. These
symptoms are considered normal physiological responses to abnormal situations. The first signs
are as follows:

Minor tremors
Loss of concentration
Memory problems

Nausea
Difficulty in thinking

Continued exposure to the situational stressors can produce the following symptoms:

Fatigue
Frustration
Shakes
Stomach cramps
Visual distortion

Irritability
Headaches
Intense nausea
Loss of emotional control

In any critical situation there will be five stages of human mental, psychological and physical
response to the situation. The key to adapting to an emergency and minimizing the stress is to
understand and move through each of the stages as quickly as possible.
Stage I: Alarm- a state of alertness as a result of some visual or audio stimulus.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to what could happen. The time frame for this could be as fleeting as
a reaction to the screech of tires on pavement, or as long as a tornado warning alarm sounding in
the city.

Response- Try not to panic. Panic will not solve or change the situation. A calm and focused
mind has a better chance for reacting to the visual or audio stimulus. Stage I can quickly
move to Stage II. You may be in the situation whether you are ready or not.

Stage II: Reaction- the physical body gears up for action.

The muscles tighten, sweat glands closedown, heart rate increases, sugar is released for energy,
and adrenalin starts to flow. If Stage II is allowed to progress, anxiety will turn to overt situational
fear. Stage II during an automobile accident will be fleeting. That same stage while sitting in a
tornado shelter as a tornado traverses the land above can be extensive.

Response- Take a deep breath and try to relax. A relaxed mind is better for establishing a
planned response and options. Establish what you know, what you do not know, and what
you need to know. Break down the problem into simplistic terms. Stage II must move quickly
into Stage III (Response and Options). You must take control of the situation before the
situation over-takes you. Control your emotions.

Stage III: Response and Options- this is the critical point in situational response; flight or fight
Adrenaline is released into the system. Refusal to believe the situation is happening can make
the situation worse. This is the point at which training and/or experience play a role in subsequent
events. In most cases, you will have no experience in the situation you are in. You may be totally
unprepared for what lies ahead. It may be very difficult to develop actions for a response.
In varying situations, the time between Stage II and Stage III is sometimes associated with an
accident that developed quickly with subsequent injury. Stage III can take place during that time
or immediately following the injury. In the case of an automobile accident, there might not be
anything that can be done due to the rate of change from normal to the unexpected. In the case
of sitting out a tornado in a tornado shelter, the rate of change can be slower, allowing for Stage
III to develop.

Response- Choose flight or fight. Develop a plan of action with as many options as
possible. Get some quick energy into your system in the form of a candy bar, hard candy, or
a stick of gum. Prevent Stage IV (Despair) from occurring. Establish some form of normal
behavior such as whistling, conversation, humor, or thinking about a natural or routine activity
while developing your plan of action.

Stage IV: Despair- a feeling that there are no more options.

Blood pressure, pulse and respirations increase. The body tenses up and there is mental tension,
with a temporal distortion of time and space.
Stage IV can also be in the form of relaxation, where the plan of action has been established and
is running smoothly. The body will relax, and the mind loses its edge and focus. This stage is
where most secondary accidents occur following the primary incident.

Response- This stage can either be total despair where the mind and body give up, or
relaxation from over-confidence where the mind and body also give up. The body needs to
relax to conserve energy, but the mind needs to remain focused. Often this is the time when
pain is your best friend. Pain reminds you that you are alive with a reason to keep living.
Hopefully, this pain is in the form of a blister or a sprained ankle, and not from a catastrophic
debilitating injury.

Stage V: Rest- a sharp emotional letdown following high-energy output.

This can lead to potential shock. At this point the body will not cooperate with the mind. The body
needs rest, and rest it will have. The mind and body must get to Stage V eventually. This is also
the point where the mind can make critical mistakes from over confidence because the situation
is thought to be over, and it is still on-going.
It is important to remember all five stages occur in the human body during and following a critical
or emergency incident. The key is moving through them as quickly as possible and recognizing
the negative aspects of each stage. It is equally important to understand controlling the emotion
of the moment is paramount.

Response- Stage V is inevitable. It must be delayed until you are totally assured the situation
is over. The body needs rest from shock, trauma, as well as the wear and tear from the
response to the situation it has just been through. Rest the body to conserve energy, but
keep the mind focused. When the time is right, treat your mind and body to the rest it
deserves.

MISSION READY
Operational Tips for Working with Persons with Disabilities- Working with Service Animals
The following is an operational tip from the New Mexico Center for Development and Disability
University of New Mexico, Tips for First Responders; Second Edition.
Working with People with Service Animals
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Remember- a service animal is not a pet.

Do not touch or give the animal food or treats without the permission of the owner.

When a dog is wearing a harness, it is on duty.

Note: In the event you are asked to take the dog while assisting the individual, hold the
leash and not the harness.

Plan to evacuate the animal with the owner. Do NOT separate them!

Service animals are not registered and there is no proof the animal is a service animal. If
the person tells you it is a service animal, treat the animal accordingly.

If the animal starts acting out of control or presents a threat to others, it must be removed
from the situation.

A person is not required to give you proof of a disability that requires a service animal. You
must accept that he or she has a disability. If you have doubts, wait until you arrive at your
destination and address the issue with the supervisor in charge.

The animal need not be specifically trained as a service animal. People with psychiatric and
emotional disabilities may have a companion animal. These are just as important to them
as a service animal to a person with a physical disability, so threat them as you would any
service animal.

A service animal must be in a harness or on a leash, but it does not have to be muzzled.

Editors Comment: As in all procedures presented in this section, the above represents a point of
view as a best practice of many good practices. It is up to the reader to determine if the
procedure should or should not be used in their operations. At the very least, an inexperienced
crew and/or team can benefit from trying them out.
GOING FROM GOOD TO GREAT
Mind Mapping
A mind map is an image-centered, radially drawn organizational chart of thought. Mind mapping
has been used graphically for centuries in areas such as education, engineering, and psychology.
Mind mapping can be used for finding a solution to a difficult problem, or developing an idea into
reality. With traditional diagramming or presentation of thought, the reader scans from left to right,
top to bottom. However, the brain will actually scan the page in a non-linear manner. With proper
mind mapping technique, a person could take notes during a lecture using a mind map for the
most important points or key words. Mind maps can also be used to sort out and simplify
complicated ideas. Mind mapping can be applied to business, educational, family and personal
matters.
As described in Wikipedia: A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or
other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to
generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem
solving, and decision making.
Here is how to mind map in eight easy steps:
1. Begin with a word or image that which represents your thoughts placed on the center of the
page.
2. Relax and start writing down or drawing the first things that come to mind when you start to
think about issues associated with that word or image. Focus on the central image or word,
and write down everything you are thinking about, even if at first they may seem strange or
unimportant.
3. As ideas flow from your mind to the chart, write one or two word descriptors of those ideas on
lines branching outward from the central image. Allow more ideas based on those ideas to
keep expanding outward onto sub-branches. Write down everything without prejudging it.
4. Think fast and come up with every idea you can. Then translate the thought to words or
images.
5. Realize everything is possible and there are no boundaries to your thoughts. To make the
chart exciting and memorable, use varying colors or ink or markers.
6. Think like you are brainstorming, and realize everything is possible. If you do not, your mind
will get stuck and you may never realize those great ideas waiting to get out.
7. While you are mapping, keep your hands and brain moving. If your thoughts start to slow
down change colors or draw empty lines for your brain to fill in later.

8. When you are through the brainstorming part, connect the relating sub-branches to the
central image.
As free-wheeling as mind mapping is, there are certain mind mapping rules, which will need to
be followed:

Start in the center of the page and be prepared to use at least three colors
Limit the use of too many words, using instead as many codes and symbols as possible
Key words should be written in UPPER case letters
Each word or image must be alone and sitting on its own line
All lines must be connected to the central image, with the lines near the center more thick
than the lines radiating outward
Make the lines the same length as the word or image
Use strong emphasis when necessary and clearly demonstrate all thought associations
When you are done, rate the branches into a numerical hierarchy

DID YOU KNOW?

Cell Phones in the Wilderness
Although in most states the use of a cell phone is illegal while hunting, that should never preclude
you from taking a cell phone with you while in the wilderness. The cell phone is only illegal to hunt
with as a means to catch game. In case you are lost or injured, it is perfectly legal to use the cell
phone to call for help. But, remember the terrain you are in may affect access and reception to
satellites or towers.
WORDS OF WISDOM- Coffee Cup Leadership Advice from the Military Pros
When you realize you have made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
Adapt to change, but do not let go of your values.
Cluster bombing is always accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground.
Remember to toss your carbine over your shoulder before dismounting. It is even more painful as
a chair coming down. (from an old U.S. Cavalry saying)
FAMOUS QUOTES
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence
on their behalf. (George Orwell)
SUBMISSIONS
Queries, suggestions, and news items are welcome. Please submit to the following addresses:
Mail:

Bruce Marxsen
5231 Topaz Crt.
Lincoln, NE 68516

The next issue of the Emergency Services Hawk will be sent out on or about 15-Dec-2007.
Please have information you would like to be considered in that issue to my attention no later
than 01-Dec-2007.